State of the Union: Biden swipes at 'predecessor' Trump

Katie Britt, the youngest Republican woman elected to the Senate, responded to Biden's State of the Union speech, condemning him as a "dithering and diminished leader."

She criticized Biden's age and said the American dream turned into "a nightmare."

"The true, unvarnished State of our Union begins and ends with this: Our families are hurting. Our country can do better," she said. 

"Our commander in chief is not in command," Britt said in the Republican Party's official response.

President Joe Biden wrapped the State of the Union speech by addressing concerns regarding his age as he strives to get reelected in November.

The 81-year-old president said his age gave him a unique perspective as president.

"I know it may not look like it, but I've been around a while," he said. "When you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before. I know the American story."

"Again and again, I've seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation -- between those who want to pull America back to the past and those want to move America into the future," he added. 

"The issue facing our nation isn't how old we are, it is how old our ideas are," Biden said, referring to "hate, anger, revenge and retribution."

The Democrat president in 2021 broke the record, becoming the oldest president inaugurated, aged 78 at the time. Should he secure a second term this year, as he intends, he would be 86 after leaving office.

Former US President Donald Trump criticized Biden's "anger" during the State of the Union speech.

"He looks so angry when he’s talking, which is a trait of people who know they are 'losing it,'" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"The anger and shouting is not helpful to bringing our Country back together!"

Biden "referenced his  "predecessor" 13 times, not saying Trump's name once. 

President Biden has called on Congress to pass immigration reform bills, including the bypartisan bill, arguing that this would prevent migrants from paying traffickers.

"This bill would save lives and bring order to the border," Biden said, arguing that it would increase border security agents, immigration judges, and asylum officers, alleviating the migration crisis.

"I will not demonize immigrants saying they're 'poisoning the blood of our country,'" Biden said, referring to Trump's words and urging Congress to pass immigration reforms.

He also vowed not to "separate families," or ban migrants from entering the country based on their faith.

"We can fight about the border, or we can fix it. I'm ready to fix it," Biden said, with chants of "fix it" echoing in the background.

Biden's tenure has seen a record number of migrants illegally cross in from the Mexican border. Former President Donald Trump has turned migration to a focus of his campaign against Biden.

US President Biden said he was working "non-stop to establish an immediate cease-fire in Gaza" that would last for six weeks to get the hostages released.

"It's heartbreaking," Biden says of the situation in Gaza.

"To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance to Gaza cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip," Biden said as protesters gathered near the White House calling for a cease-fire. 

Biden said most of those killed in the conflict were not Hamas militants.

"Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution is a two-state solution."

He also announced plans to set up a temporary port on Gaza's coast. 

"Tonight, I'm directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelter," Biden said.

He pledged to the families of the hostages still held by the Palestinian, militant group Hamas that he would not rest until they are brought home.

Biden has faced increasing pressure from Democrats over his support for Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.

President Joe Biden making the case that the US economy is stronger now than when he took office.

"Folks, I inherited an economy that was on the brink," he said.

"Now our economy is literally the envy of the world. Fifteen million new jobs in just three years, that's a record. Unemployment at 50-year lows," he said.   

President Joe Biden addressed the January 6 Capitol riots of 2021, when former President Donald Trump's supporters stormed Congress to protest the 2020 election results.

Biden said the riots posed the greatest threat to US democracy since the US Civil War.

"But they failed. America stood strong and democracy prevailed," Biden said. 

He accused Trump of seeking "to bury the truth about Jan 6," vowing not to do the same.

"Here's the simplest truth, you can't love your country only when you win."

US President Joe Biden kicked off the State of the Union Speech by saying that "freedom and democracy" were under attack.

"Freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time," he said.

He was referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, stressing he will not "stop at Ukraine."

"Ukraine can stop Putin, if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself."

He denied any American soldiers in Ukraine, saying he was "determined to keep it that way."

"History is watching. If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk," Biden said. 

"My message to President Putin is simple; we will not walk away, we will not bow down, I will not bow down," he said to loud applause.

Protesters calling on President Joe Biden to push for a permanentcease-fire in the Gaza Strip broke out in several parts of the US, including near the White House.

Dozens gathered near the White House in Washington DC, as the police blocked off a nearby road.

"We are here today because enough is enough," the Reuters news agency quoted Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, as saying.

Videos purportedly depicting the protests in Washington were shared on social media.

Protesters also blocked off roads in Boston and Los Angeles.

US President Joe Biden will attack election rival Donald Trump for plotting "revenge and retribution" during his State of the Union address.

Excerpts from the speech released by the White House suggest Biden will attempt to ease growing concern over his age.

"My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy," he is due to say. "Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That's not me."

Though refraining from naming Trump, the speech is believed to be referencing the former president.

In a video responding in advance to the State of the Union Speech, Trump said Biden was "on the run from his record" and accused him of "horrific devastation" during his three years so far in office.

He vowed a "rapid response" to Biden during the speech.

"It's time to tell Crooked Joe Biden – you're fired," Trump said, in a well-worn reference to the catchphrase of his former TV reality show "The Apprentice."

If last year's State of the Union is any indication, Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump, who opposed most of President Joe Biden's legislative proposals throughout the year, may create a noisy audience.

Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene told CNN she might heckle Biden again.

"If he's a liar, he should be called out," she said. "We'll see how he talks tonight and I'll decide then."

Meanwhile, several liberal lawmakers angry over Biden's staunch support of Israel in its war against Hamas are expected to wear pins in support of efforts to obtain a cease-fire in Gaza. 

Alabama Senator Katie Britt, the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Senate, will deliver a rebuttal to Biden's address.

She plans to paint a picture of a nation that "seems to be slipping away" and one where "our families are hurting."

"Right now, our commander-in-chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader," Britt plans to say, according to excerpts of her speech released early.

"America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense are the cornerstones of a great nation."

On the day Sweden officially joined NATO, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will be one of the guests attending the State of the Union in the House of Representatives chamber.

President Joe Biden, his wife Jill, and members of Congress carefully choose guests for the annual State of the Union speech to highlight political causes.

Other guests on Thursday night include Ella and Mikhail Gershkovich, the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia on spying charges.

Orna and Daniel Neutra, the mother and brother of Omer Neutra, who is being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza, will also be in the audience. 

Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, and the wife of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, were both invited by the White House but declined.